Track pontoon



Feb. 19, 1952 GAZDA 2,586,218

TRACK PONTOON Filed Nov. 22, 1944 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Feb. 19, 1952 DA 2,586,218

TRACK PONTOON Filed Nov. 22, 1944 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 f%%ml% Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UN IT E D S TAT ES PAT OFFICE- 2,586,218 TRACK PONTO'ON" Antoine: Gazda, Providence, R. I.-

Appli'cation November 22, 1944', Serial No. 564,6??7

4. Claims. 1

The present invention, in its broadest aspect, relates to pontoons for floating craft of any character. More particularly, the invention has especial relation to pontoons for seaplanes, seasleds, boat hulls, flying boats and the like.

Existing pontoons, combined, as for example on seaplanes or flying boat hulls, in presently conventional manner with fixed or retractable wheeled landing-gear, are bound up with the disadvantage that they impose a considerable reduction in speed and maneuverability of the craft with which. they are associated. Moreover, these wheeled landing-gears, if retractable, generally involve a construction which is most difficult to withdraw into and lodge in the body of the pontoon. A further deficiency of the said landing-gears is that they are not adapted. for travel in swamps or for use on amphibiouscraft when climbing slopes in coming ashore.

A primary object of the present invention, is to provide in a pontoon of the character described a relationship of parts which is free from the aforedescribed deficiencies andv disadvantages.

A further object of the invention is to provide pontoons for seaplanes, sea-sleds, boat hulls, fly ing boats, etc., i. e. floating craft generally, with means enabling the said pontoons to travel onv water, on land, over swamps, etc.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such means with a device for reducing to a minimum the resistance to: travel in water and the resistance to travel in air.

Briefly stated, the foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention are realized by a relationship of parts involving. av pontoon structure or structures for craft of the character hereinbefore denominated, which structure is characterized by the incorporation therein of one or more continuously moving endless track members, as well as by the association with said member or members of means for selectively projecting or retracting the same or portions thereof relative to the pontoon, and also by the provision of cooperating shock-absorbing means.

To facilitate the understanding of the invention, the following detailed description presentlypreferred embodiments thereof is made with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawing.

On the said sheets, a

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a pontoon, a part being broken away to show the associated landing-gear according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, and showing the landing-gear in one stage of projection;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, and showing the landing gear in a further stage of, projection;

Fig. 4 is a perspective" View showing a prez, ferred form of endless track member according to theinvention;

Fig. 5 illustrates in somewhat diagrammatic manner one form of landing-gear operating means, the view beingpartly in section and partly in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a view-- similar to Fig. 5 and showing another form of landing-gear retracting and projecting means;-

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view show-ingin somewhat diagrammatic manner the associationwith the landing gear of means for the positive propulsionthereof; and

Fig. 8 is a view along" line 8-8 of Fig. 7, showing the parts as viewed inthe direction of the arrows.

As shown in Fig. 1 reference numeral t0 designates a pontoon providedat an intermediate,

point thereof with partitions- H which, with the side walls I2 of the pontoon, define a chamberfor the housing of the: landing-gear according to the invention.v A supporting partition or ceiling l3 has sleeve members: f4 aifixed thereto in depending relationship, shanks P5 of journal m6m-- bers: I 6 being telescopically associated with the said sleeves I4. Rollers I! are journaled on journal. members 16, and: endless track. members 18 extend over each. pair of rollers. H, as shown.

It will be noted that, in the. retracted position shown in Fig. 1 the outer surface of the track. member 18 forms a surface whichis essentially flush with the base of the pontoon so that the latter presents, in flight, what is effectually a. continuous surface, and the association of. the landing-gear with the device: thus involves no particular resistance to travel in air.

In the position shown in Fig. 2 where therear roller I! is projected farther than the front roller, the result is that the track [8 produces a socalled step in the base of the pontoon. The

latter may therefore be lifted on the step. thus reducing resistance to movement in water and. giving the most favorable hydrodynamic conditions for travel on water. During rise of the pontoon from the water into. the air, the aforesaid rear roller l1 may be retracted back to the position of Fig. 1, so that the track i8 again forms a surface flush with the base of the pontoon and reduces the resistance in the air, elimi-' nating the turbulence, suction and drag whichv arise behind the usual step. For landing on water, the said rear wheel may again be projected (Fig. 2), providing the step construction which is favorable to a water landing.

The tracks [8, which are advantageously built of rubber or similar material, can also be provided with small projections l8a (Fig. 4'). These give the track a firm grip on swamps and other land, especially when the pontoons are climbing ashore. The projections l8a on the tracks l8 act, on the water, as auxiliary steps which act to shorten the take-oil of, for example, seaplanes from the water.

After coming ashore or when travelling on land the tracks 18 can be projected farther (Fig. 3), thus replacing the-wheels of conventional landing-gear for the take-off or landing on land.

For land travel these pontoons on seaplanes, sea-sleds, etc. can be driven by the puller or pusher force of the air propeller of the craft, or can be geared or connected (Fig. 7) to any engine power (not shown) in the plane, sea-sled or other craft by direct drive to the wheel or roller axle of the track.

Referring now to the construction of Fig. '5, each roller I! may be mounted on a yoke-shaped journal member [6 which is centrally in screw engagement with a spindle 19 as shown. Spindle l9 extends through centrally bored guide member 20 and is driven with the aid of gear 2| keyed thereon. Gear 2| is driven engagement with gear 22 which maybe driven from any suitable and convenient source of power (not shown). Gears 2| and 22 are arranged as shown for relative sliding movement. Spindle I9 is provided with a casing 23 intermediately thereof, this casing housing a shock-absorbing spring which bears against member 20 at one end and the bottom of casing 23 at the other. The upper open end of casing 23 slidingly and rotatingly encompasses guide member 28. The latter is supported from ceiling 13.

Further depending from ceiling 13 on each side of the arrangement above described is an open-ended cylinder 25 which telescopingly receives an upstanding cylinder 26 mounted on the adjacent portion of journal member I6. A shock absorbing spring 21 is housed between each set of cylinders as shown. The several spring arrangements thus provided effectively absorb any shocks to which the track members may be subjected.

Projection and retraction of each roller is, of course, realized by suitable actuation of the gear train 2|, 22. As a result of the threaded engagement at 28 and the fact that the cylinders 25, 26 hold the member I6 against rotation, actuation of spindle 19 in the proper direction results in the desired projection or retraction.

An alternative construction is disclosed in Fig. 6this arrangementbeing essentially hydraulic in character. Cylinders 28 are dependingly supported from partition [3. The roller supporting journal members 16 terminate at their respective upper ends in-a piston member 29. Suitable fluid supply and bleeder conduits 38 and 3|, connected to a source of pressure fluid (not shown) are provided. Suitable valves may be provided and connected to these conduits whereby each pair of pistons 29 (i. e. the front and rear pairs which respectively carry one of the rollers ll) may be actuated independently of the other pair (to obtain the result of Fig. 2) or both pairs may be actuated at once (to obtain the result of Fig. 3). Such valves are shown for example in Patent No. 1,931,392 of October 17, 1933, and their method of connection to the conduits can be efiected in an obvious manner.

Figs. 7 and 8 show an arrangement whereby the track members I8 may be positively driven. To this end, a journal member l6 may be provided with means 30 for supporting a bevel gear 3| which is integrally associated with a sprocket 32 and which is in driven engagement with bevel gear 33 which may be mounted on stub shaft 34. Gear 33 may conveniently be drivenrfrom any suitable source of motive power through the medium of composite shaft 31. Sprocket chain 35 transmits power from sprocket 32 to roller I! through sprocket 36 integrally associated therewith.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A step construction for a ship's hull or pontoon having a downwardly opening housing therein intermediately of the ends thereof comprising a pair of spaced journal members arranged in said housing, means for selectively projecting either or both of said journal members from said housing, a roller journaled at the outer end of each said journal member, and an endless track member arranged over and around said rollers.

2. A step construction for a ships hull or pontoon having a downwardly opening housing therein intermediately of the ends thereof comprising a pair of spaced rollers in said housing, an endless belt on said rollers forming a step, means for selectively projecting and retracting either or both of said rollers from the bottom of said hull or pontoon and thereby effecting projection or retraction of said step, said step when retracted having the exposed surface thereof in alignment with the lower surface of the hull or pontoon.

3. A ships hull or pontoon comprising means defining a downwardly opening housing therein intermediately of the ends thereof, a pair of spaced journal members arranged in said housing, means for selectively projecting either or both of said journal members from said housing, a roller journaled at the outer end of each of said journal members, an endless track member on said rollers having the lower surface thereof in alignment with the lower surface of the hull or pontoon, and means for rotating said rollers.

4. A ships hull or pontoon comprising means defining a downwardly opening housing therein intermediately of the ends thereof, a pair of spaced journal members arranged in said housing, means for selectively projecting said journal members from said housing, a roller journaled at the outer end of each of said journal members, an endless track member on said rollers having the lower surface thereof in alignment with the lower surface of the hull or pontoon, a plurality of minor steps upon said track member, and means for rotating said rollers.

ANTOINE GAZDA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 846,417 Lake Mar. 5, 1907 1,123,230 Bowers Jan. 5, 1915 1,364,470 Ziebell Jan. 4, 1921 1,658,700 Anderson Feb. 7, 1928 1,749,276 Edmonds Mar. 4, 1930 1,974,424 Kean Sept. 25, 1934 2,048,181 Cook July 21, 1936 2,223,855 Powell Dec. 3, 1940 2,347,841 Parker May 2, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 647,798 Germany July 13, 1937 285,751 Italy May 21, 1931 141,198 Switzerland July 15, 1930 

